Improvement in car-couplings



PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MATEER, OF SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,687, dated October30, 1877; application filed October 16, 1877.

tion.

This invention relates to automatic railroadcar couplings and consistsin the arrangement of the guiding-plates, which are pivoted upon theface-plates or buffers, so that when the cars come together forcoupling, the buifers being forced inwardly, the guide-plates areadjusted automatically; also, in the construction of the brace-rodswhich are: connected to the face-plates or buffers, whereby theyarecontrolled by a single coiled spring, all of which will be more fullyexplained in the general description, and set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of the car-coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are front and inside views of theface-plates or buffers.

A represents the usual box or frame in which the coupling devices arearranged and secured. B is a skeleton frame, L-shaped, having agallows-bar at B, Fig. 3, with ahole, 11', therein, for the bolt b. Thisframe B is pivoted on each side of A at a, so that its own weight, withthat of the bolt 1), will cause the latter to fall whenever the bolt isreleased, as will be explained further on. G G are sectional faceplates, having a space between them for the reception of theguide-plates O O, which are adjustably secured to plates 0 O" by meansof fixed pivots d d at one end, and to plates G C by sliding pivots 0 cat the other end, moving in slots 0 0, fastened on the backs and nearthe edges of plates 0 G, as shown in Fig. 1. O O" are fixed plates,forming part of the frame A, and correspond with the plates 0 O, andsustain the frame, and by them it is to be secured upon the frame of thecar.

The plates O O are attached to rods 6 e e 6, two above and two below,which pass freely through holes in plates 0" C. These four rods arefastened to a single stem, D, which is prolonged into a guide-rod, E,around which is a coiled spring, F, which bears upon a guidebar, E, anda shoulder on D.

()n the two upper rods 6 e is fastened a plate, f, which serves as aplatform to sustain the bolt b, when the car is uncoupled, as seen inFig. 1. In Fig. 2 this plate f is seen in the rear of bolt 1), which isin place for holding the link. Consequently, so long as bolt b is inplace, the spring F is compressed; so soon as bolt b is lifted aboveplate f, the spring F, by its recoil, will force the rods 6 c and plate0 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the bolt b will rest on plate f,ready to drop into position again, as before described.

When cars are to be connected, they are brought together as representedin Fig. 1. The guide-plates touch each other at top and bottom, theconnecting-link passing between them. So soon as these guide-plates havebeen forced together, until the face-plates (J C touch each other andmove inwardly, and carry backward the plate f, until the bolt 1) isreleased, then it will drop into the link, and thus complete thecoupling of the cars.

I claim- 1. The combination of the face-plates O O, the upper and lowerrods 6 6, connected to a single guide-rod, E, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

2. The guide-plates O, in combination with the face-plate G, as and forthe purpose described.

3. The combination of the brace-rods e e, supporting-plate f, bolt 0,and spring F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. MATEER.

Witnesses:

T. H. N. MoPHERsoN, WM. R. SINGLETON.

